CA Teacher Job Protection Laws Are Unconstitutional, Judge Rules

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A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that key job protections for teachers in California are unconstitutional, in a major loss for unions.

Attorney Theodore Boutrous, left, speaks in January about a lawsuit to overturn laws that provide seniority protections to teachers in California. In the foreground is Clara Campbell, 9, a plaintiff in the suit. (Credit: Los Angeles Times)

The verdict represents a complete victory by attorneys who argued that state laws governing teacher layoffs, tenure and dismissals harm students by making them more likely to suffer from grossly ineffective instruction.

If the preliminary ruling becomes final and is upheld, the effect will be sweeping across California and possibly the nation.

“The law was on our side and the evidence was overwhelming,” said Marcellus McRae, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “Whatever happens, we can’t go backward. The time of defending the status quo and business as usual — those days are over. We have to re-create a system that focuses on placing children’s interests at the forefront.”